Sri Lanka Army, Navy assist flood victims in the North

More than 700 Sri Lanka Army troops serving in Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu and Wanni districts were busy providing rescue and relief assistance to District Secretariat’s in these districts, the Army said in a statement today.

These troops have been providing cooked meals, evacuation and relocation, medical assistance, sanitary and technical facilities, to nearly 5000 flood-affected people in Palliyaru, Vannikulam, Mandagalaru, Pannagandi, Netahaliyaru areas of the Security Force Headquarters (SFHQ)-Kilinochchi, Muthyakattu area of the SFHQ Mullaittivu and Kokilai, Janakapura, Welioya and Pulmoddai areas of the SFHQ Wanni.

Over 4200 affected people in above-mentioned areas in Kilinochchi, most of who have now been housed at Umayagapuram Vidyalayam, Kumaranpuran Vidyalayam, Pottuwadu Vidyalayam, Anandakulam Vidyalayam and Sirimurukkandi Vidyalyam with the support received from the Kilinochchi District Secretariat, have been provided basic amenities such as drinking water, soap, mats, pillows, etc, the Army Media reported. Most of their houses remain submerged in water.

Kilinochchi troops meanwhile have put up additional toilets in respective places for the displaced and also made their gully bowsers available for collection of sewage at the request of the District Secretariat. Some of the victims have also received medical assistance both from Army medical officers and those at the Kilinochchi district hospital with the assistance of the troops.

Meanwhile, troops of the SFHQ-Mullaittivu (MLT) in the past 48 hours responding to the looming flood threats, evacuated many affected and threatened people to be housed in Kallapadu Primary Vidyalayam, Pandarawani church, and Muthiyankattu Vidyalayam.

On the directions of Major General P.U.S Vithanage, Commander, SFHQ-Mullaittivu, more than 300 troops are now engaged in rescue and relief assignments keeping a close vigil as all low coastal areas and causeways have gone under water with fast rising water levels in six major tanks as reported by the SFHQ-MLT. So far a total of 208 displaced people are sheltered in above-named locations and the troops are in constant touch with the Mullaittivu District Secretariat for onward relief operations. Similarly, the Navy troops with their boats are on standby to face any worse scenario with the escalation of torrential rains.

In the meantime, a little more than 100 affected people from Kokilai, Janakapura, Welioya and Pulmodai areas have been accommodated in one school and a church, serviced by the SFHQ-Wanni. After the Army’s supply of immediate needs, District Secretary for Vavuniya has assured to supply dry rations to the victims beginning on Sunday until they vacate the premises.

Meanwhile, in response to the floods affecting several areas in the island due to the adverse weather conditions, Sri Lanka Navy remains standby to deploy its personnel on flood relief operations to render assistance to the people affected.

Naval troops attached to SLNS Walagamba had rescued 5 people on Saturday during their deployment on flood relief in the Kattakulam, Thiriyaya.